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PIA News Service - Friday, March 5, 2010

Power shortage in Mindanao now at 820-MW

BUTUAN CITY (March 5) - The power shortage in Mindanao now at 820 megawatts (MW).

In its latest advisory, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said that the total available capacity of 820-MW in the Mindanao grid would still be insufficient to meet the peak demand of 1,470 MW.

From 498 generation deficiency on Wednesday, the additional power supply increased after STEAG Power Incorporated and Aboitiz Power Corporation increased their respective capability on Thursday, the NGCP advisory said.

STEAG Power Inc.'s coal-fired power plant increased its capability from 150 MW to 210 MW.

Another plant of Aboitiz Power Corporation’s Therma Marine Unit 2, was already synchronized to the grid on Thursday. It is now generating 47 MW.

“However, the total available capacity in the Mindanao grid would still be insufficient to meet the peak demand,” added the advisory of NGCP Friday.

Thus power curtailment from four to eight hours is still in effect at various electric cooperatives in the southern island, it added.

To support power distribution, an estimated 112 big industrial companies spread all over the southern island already volunteered to de-load from the grid during peak hours, it said.

The state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) also started the operation of the 35-MW diesel power plant in Iligan City Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco T. Matugas told PNA that his province is already badly affected by the power outages as they experienced eight to 12 hours brownout a day. “The situation is getting worse,” the official said. (muc/PIA-Caraga)